Diageo Offers Casks of Ultra-Aged Brora and Other Top Single Malts

If you’ve ever wanted to buy your own cask of Brora or Talisker, then The Twelve by Casks of Distinction might be just what you’re looking for. Casks of Distinction offers exclusive access to purchase individual barrels of rare single malt scotch whisky from Diageo’s inventory. Under the auspices of the Diageo Luxury Group, a dozen casks have been selected for the 2024 collection. These barrels will allow their new owners to taste rare whiskies laid down during the last decades of the 20th century. First launched in 2023, The Twelve by Casks of Distinction is squarely aimed at Diageo’s private clients and offered through a series of invitation-only events in select global locations.

The most eye-catching name on the list (see below) is a cask of Brora 1977, currently 47 years old, selected by Dr. Craig Wilson, one of Diageo’s master whisky makers. Brora Distillery closed in 1983, and its bottlings grew in popularity under the Diageo Special Releases program, becoming highly collectible. The distillery was refurbished and re-opened in 2021, and the oldest of the new Brora stock is now more than 3 years old. In 2022, Sotheby’s sold a Brora 1982 Casks of Distinction barrel at auction for $842,756, which was 40 years old at that point and contained enough to yield an estimated 145 bottles. Whoever purchases the Brora 1977 cask will be invited to visit the distillery to fill a cask with new make spirit.

Most cask ownership schemes in Scotland are geared toward selling fillings of new make spirit that require the cask owner to wait many years for the spirit to mature. Direct cask sales of mature scotch whisky ready for bottling are a relatively recent initiative in Scotland, more akin to the popular barrel pick programs in Kentucky, Tennessee, and elsewhere.

Diageo offered no word on pricing for any of these gems, so we’ll have to assume that if you have to ask, you can’t afford it. The oldest cask in The Twelve is a Talisker 1975, which along with the Brora 1977, are the two casks in the collection that could continue to mature until they turn 50 years old, as the cask owners have the option of storing their casks at Royal Lochnagar Distillery for up to five years before bottling. As an additional incentive, Diageo will host cask owners for tailored experiences at the distilleries from which their casks originated.

For more information about Diageo’s private client services or to make purchase enquiries about The Twelve by Casks of Distinction 2024, click here.

The Twelve by Casks of Distinction 2024

Talisker 1975 Cask No. 4966, 47.8%
Island single malt scotch, refill American oak hogshead, estimated yield 155 bottles

Brora 1977 Cask No. 2845, 47.8%
Highland single malt scotch, refill American oak hogshead, estimated yield 158 bottles

Talisker 1986 Cask No. 896, 47.2%
Island single malt scotch, freshly charred American oak hogshead, estimated yield 153 bottles

Royal Lochnagar 1988 Cask No. 1119, 50.9%
Highland single malt scotch, refill American oak “charred ends” hogshead, estimated yield 168 bottles

Dalwhinnie 1989 Cask No. 3754, 47%
Speyside single malt scotch, refill American oak hogshead, estimated yield 214 bottles

Caol Ila 1990 Cask No. 9243, 48.9%
Islay single malt scotch, refill American oak hogshead, estimated yield 201 bottles

Clynelish 1990 Cask No. 12016, 53.6%
Highland single malt scotch, refill American oak hogshead, estimated yield 333 bottles

Cragganmore 1990 Cask No. 388, 57.3%
Speyside single malt scotch, refill American oak hogshead, estimated yield 146 bottles

Linkwood 1990 Cask No. 7805, 52.9%
Speyside single malt scotch, refill American oak hogshead, estimated yield 164 bottles

Auchroisk 1991 Cask No. 572018, 48.2%
Speyside single malt scotch, wine-seasoned American oak hogshead, estimated yield 238 bottles

Benrinnes 1992 Cask No. 9554, 53%
Speyside single malt scotch, first-fill European oak sherry butt, estimated yield 362 bottles

Inchgower 1992 Cask No. 2754, 50.7%
Speyside single malt scotch, refill American oak barrel, estimated yield 131 bottles